In Summary: President Joseph N. Boakai claimed that Liberia has a coastline of 4,300 miles but we have checked and found the number is incorrect.
On August 6 President Joseph N. Boakai delivered a keynote address at the Liberia 2024 Investment Conference at the EJS Ministerial Complex and claimed that Liberia has a coastline of “over 4,300 miles”.
He made the statement while highlighting the country’s natural endowment, emphasizing the investment potential that lies in the tourism sector.
Claim
Said Pres. Boakai: “With over 4,300 miles of coastline, the country offers beautiful beaches, perfect for activities such as surfing.”
Rating Justification
To fact-check this claim, we searched and found a publication on the website of the Environmental Protection Agency which states that Liberia has a coastline of 350 miles.
The Environmental Protection Agency is a regulatory entity enacted by law for the sustainable management of the environment and its natural resources.
Also, the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority in its West Africa Regional Fisheries Project document states that Liberia has a coastline of 350 miles.
The National Investment Commission on its website also states that Liberia has a coastline of 580km – which is 360 miles.
UN Food and Agriculture Organization also records that Liberia has a coastline of 570km which is a little over 354 miles if converted to miles.
Conclusion
Based on this fact, we conclude that the claim by President Boakai that Liberia has a coastline of 4,300 miles is incorrect. Data from EPA, NaFAA show that Liberia has a coastline of 350 miles.
This report is produced with funding from the USAID Media Activity. The funder has No say in the editorial decisions leading to the production of this content
